Kamara gets shirty again to spark win

Portsmouth - 2 Leeds Utd - 1: Diomansy Kamara, the Senegal striker now confirmed as Portsmouth's record signing at £2.3 million after manager Harry Redknapp cast doubts over his status, was astonishingly booked for the second time in three days for celebrating a goal by removing his shirt.

Kamara struck in the 14th minute with a splendid solo effort almost as impressive as his effort in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on Sunday, but had clearly not learned the latest additions to the rule book.

Kamara's third goal in four starts sparked a narrow win for Portsmouth over hard-battling Leeds, but if he carries on like this he will be suspended almost as often as he scores.

Referee Steve Bennett, who in September sent off Everton's Tim Cahill for a second bookable offence of shirt-removing, had no option but to show the yellow card again just as Mike Atkinson did at the Riverside.

Bennett also pointed to the spot 17 minutes later when on-loan debut-maker Valery Mezague fell over the challenge of Leeds' Gary Kelly and Eyal Berkovic netted from the spot for what turned out to be the winner.

But hard-up Leeds, 17th in the Championship just three years after reaching the European Cup semi-final battled hard to try to register only their seventh win of the season and had Portsmouth scrambling to hold onto their lead at the end after Brian Deane replied with a header before half-time.

The early minutes suggested Pompey would run up a big score to rival the six they scored when Leeds were at Fratton Park in the Premiership last season.

Kamara and Ricardo Fuller were a constant threat and Berkovic pulled all the strings in midfield.

It was no surprise at all when, after forcing two saves from Neil Sullivan, the Senegal striker grabbed a 14th-minute lead with a burst from Fuller's pass which took him past two defenders and Sullivan's desperate dive to slot home.

Leeds were neat and tidy enough in their build-up and on occasion Portsmouth showed alarming lapses of concentration at the back.

Kelly fed Deane two chances with crosses from the right and the big striker forced a good save from goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown before his next effort was fortunately blocked by Andy Griffin.

But it was Leeds who were punished again in the 31st minute when Berkovic struck Pompey's second goal from the spot. And that, effectively, seemed to be that.

Kelly had tripped Mezague as the Cameroon midfielder moved into the area and Berkovic comfortably put away the penalty.

But Joachim and Deane continued chasing lost causes up front and Portsmouth's defence went missing again in the 38th minute when Deane rose once more to meet a Kelly cross and this time headed powerfully home with hardly a challenge.

Redknapp had to resort to sending on Patrik Berger and top scorer Aiyegbeni Yakubu to replace the limping Berkovic and Kamara and Aliou Cisse missed a sitter of a chance to make it 3-1 on 54 minutes.

PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown, Griffin, Primus, De Zeeuw, Taylor, Berkovic (Yakubu 57), Cisse, Hughes, Mezague, Fuller, Kamara (Berger 69). Subs Not Used: Hislop, Stefanovic, Faye. Booked: Mezague. Goals: Kamara 14, Berkovic 32 pen.

LEEDS UTD: Sullivan, Kelly, Carlisle, Walton, Pugh, Gregan (Keogh 86), Richardson, Spring, Simon Johnson (Ricketts 86), Joachim (Lennon 71), Deane. Subs Not Used: Carson, Winter. Booked: Carlisle. Goal: Deane 40.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).